| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: at the very thought of seeing that enigmatic head falling under the
knife of the guillotine, as easily as that of any other man.
Suddenly there was a great stir on the handsome staircase, all
conversation stopped for a moment as the majordomo's voice outside
announced,--
"His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and suite, Sir Percy
Blakeney, Lady Blakeney."
Lord Grenville went quickly to the door to receive his exalted
guest.
The Prince of Wales, dressed in a magnificent court suit of
salmon-coloured velvet richly embroidered with gold, entered with
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: "Bought a picture?" said Mr. Tristram, looking vaguely round at the walls.
"Why, do they sell them?"
"I mean a copy."
"Oh, I see. These," said Mr. Tristram, nodding at the Titians and Vandykes,
"these, I suppose, are originals."
"I hope so," cried Newman. "I don't want a copy of a copy."
"Ah," said Mr. Tristram, mysteriously, "you can never tell.
They imitate, you know, so deucedly well. It's like the jewelers,
with their false stones. Go into the Palais Royal, there; you see
'Imitation' on half the windows. The law obliges them to stick it on,
you know; but you can't tell the things apart. To tell the truth,"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Second Home by Honore de Balzac: blushed. The young lawyer was thrilled with joy at seeing the hopes of
another life overpowered by those of love, and the glory of the
sanctuary eclipsed by earthly reminiscences; but his triumph was
brief. Angelique dropped her veil, assumed a calm demeanor, and went
on singing without letting her voice betray the least emotion.
Granville was a prey to one single wish, and every thought of prudence
vanished. By the time the service was ended, his impatience was so
great that he could not leave the ladies to go home alone, but came at
once to make his bow to "his little wife." They bashfully greeted each
other in the Cathedral porch in the presence of the congregation.
Madame Bontems was tremulous with pride as she took the Comte de
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